Method of and means for handling material



March 6, 1934. J, L, KOLLER METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR HANDLING MATERIAL1-!L. rv T ff V1 E 7 43 0 R N .2 2 3 m 6 0 M "H L MU .fl V m w W L R. J6

March 6, 1934. J. L. KOLLER METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR HANDLING MATERIAL 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 9, 1932 PIC.

/NV'/VTOH J. L. KOLLER ATTORNEY March 6, 1934. J. KOLLER METHOD OF ANDMEANS FOR HANDLING MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 \7 a 3 O M m I l 3 2 I m u2 2 O I 2 4 a H 2 B 2 Z N 2 7 7 0 6 m G i 2 E 6 7 0 7 \2 8 X 2 m 7 W w xw 2 Z Z I/ II 5 8 2 o 2 5 5 l "a 2 2 2 W 2 z s m 2 2 w a 2 2 2 w 3 0 5 2m w F'I'G. 7.

/NVENTUR .J. L .KOLLER B Y 65R ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEN TOR J L..KULLER ifimwpzm ATTORNEY March 6, 1934. J. 1.. KOLLER METHOD OF ANDMEANS FOR HANDLING MATERIAL Filed April 9, 1932 Patented Mar. 6, 1934barren STATES PATENT oFFica 7 METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR HANDLING MATERIALApplication April 9, 1932, Serial No. 604,180

23 Claims.

The invention relates to methods of and means for handling material andmore particularly to methods of and means for loading, carrying andunloading cable, cable reels and other heavy objects requiringtransportation from one place to another.

An object of the invention is to provide a road vehicle adapted forloading, carrying and unloading cable reels and other heavy objectsrequiring transportation from one place to another.

Another object is to provide a loading platform from which the cablereels or other articles can be readily loaded onto the road vehicle.

One of the features of the invention is a socalled six wheel automobileon which heavy cable reels can be readily loaded, transported andunloaded.

Another feature is the provision of means for maintaining the cable reelin a suspended and rotatable position on the vehicle so that cable canbe wound from a reel or wound onto a reel.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of means whereby thepower plant employed to propel the vehicle may also be used to actuatethe means for maintaining a cable reel in a suspended and rotatableposition on the vehicle.

The invention will be better understood by referring to the descriptionand accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a partial cross sectionalView of the loading platform and a side view of the vehicle with a cablereel mounted thereon;

Figs. 2 and 3 are cross sectional views of a part of the vehicle showingthe mechanism employed in one embodiment of the invention for loadingand unloading the cable reels;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the bottom of the rear platform and sub-frameof the truck;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a part of the actuating mechanism; I

Figs. 6 and '7 are views of the vehicle showing a part of the mechanismemployed in another embodiment of the invention for elevating andlowering a reel and for maintaining it suspended in any position whileremoving cable therefrom or winding cable thereon, and

Fig. 8 is a schematic view of the actuating mechanism employed.

Loading platform between the check 11 and one end of a plunger 14. Aface plate 15 is attached to the other end of the plunger 14. A spring16 normally maintains the chock 11 in the position shown in Fig.

1. The chock 11 is adapted to pivot around the 60 pin 17 until it isflush with the loading platform 10, when pressure is applied to the faceplate 15 to permit the reel 12 to roll off the platform 10.

General truck construction Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8 the truck20 has a cable reel 21 mounted upon it. The truck 20 is preferablysuitably equipped with a plunger 22 which is adapted to engage the faceplate 15 of the plunger 14.

The truck 20 is preferably of the so called six wheel type having amotor 23 (Fig. 8) secured to a main frame 24. To propel the truck, poweris preferably transmitted to the front wheels 25 and. the front pair 26of the rear wheel assembly through a clutch 27 (Fig. 8) of a suitabletype well known in the art, a transmission 28, of a suitable type wellknown in the art, front drive shaft 29, rear drive shaft 30, a suitabledifferential on the front axle (not shown) and a suitable differential31 (Fig. 2) on the axle of the forward pair of rear wheels 26.

Main frame The main frame 24 preferably has an inclined portion 32 (Fig.2) and a substantially horizontal lower rear portion 33. The main frame24 is preferably connected to the four rear wheel assembly by means oftwo sets of springs. As shown in Fig. 1 each set of springs preferablycomprises spring assemblies 34 and 35, separated by a spacer 36. Thefront ends of springs 34 and 35 are fastened to the axle housingassociated with the wheels 26 at 37 and 38 respectively, and the rearend of the springs 34 and 35 are fastened to the axle housing associatedwith the wheels 39 at 40 and 41 respectively. The centers of the springs34 and 35 are fastened to a so called pivot axle 42 (Figs. 2 and 3),which is centrally located with respect to the wheels 100 26 and 39, bymeans of a bearing 43 fastened to the lower end portion of spring 34, topermit the four rear wheel assembly to pivot about the axle 42. g

A pair of jacks 44 (Fig. 3) or other suitable i05 means are preferablyprovided to permit adjusting the height of the main frame 24 above thepivot axle 42 to compensate for wear on the tires employed and therebyto maintain the height of the main frame at a desired predetermined dis-11g rear portion of the tance above the roadway. Each of the jacks 44preferably comprise a jack screw 45, a gear 46 adapted to be rotated bymeans of a pinion 4'7 and a crank 48, and an axle frame bracket 49secured to the frame 24 by means of screws 50 or other suitable means.The gear 46 is preferably adapted to engage the bracket 49 to move theframe and bracket upward, suitable shims 51 may be placed between theaxle guide bracket 52 and the axle frame bracket 49, when the axle framebracket 49 has been raised to the desired height, to relieve the strainon the threads of the gear 46 and the jack screw 45. The axle 53 towhich the rear pair of wheels 39 are fastened is preferably U-shaped topermit the assembly thereof underneath the main frame 24 and not incontact therewith.

Preferably a pair of helper springs 54 are secured between the rear endsof the main frame 24, by U-shaped bolts 55 or other suitable means, andthe upper side of axle 53 to take a portion of the load from the springs34 and 35 while a heavy reel is being rolled onto the truck 20.

The plunger 22 is preferably secured to the main frame 24 by means of arod 56 which is attached to the plunger 22 and which rod extends throughan opening in the rear portion of the frame 24 and also through anopening in a cross member 5'7. A spring 58 is preferably employed tomaintain the plunger 22 in the position shown and to allow it to moveforward when excessive pressure is applied to the plunger 22.

Rear platform and reel stops A rear platform assembly 75 (Figs. 1, 2, 3,and 4) is mounted upon the rear portion of the truck. The rear platformassembly preferably comprises a metal sub-frame '76 and a metal platform'77 mounted on and secured to the subframe '76 by welding or by othersuitable means. The rear platform assembly '75 is arranged to pivotabout a su'table rod or bar '78. The rod or bar 78 is secured to a crossmember 79 of the sub-frame '76 by means of suitable members 80 and 31.The rod or bar 78 is also rotatably secured to the horizontal portion 33of the main frame 24 by means of suitable bearings 82 and 83. Theplatform '77 and the sub-frame '78 preferably has a portionsubstantially parallel to the horizontal portion 33 of the main frame,and an inclined portion substantially parallel to the inclined portion32 of the main frame 24, to permit the sub-frame and the platform to bepivoted to a position where portions of the 1nclined part of theplatform '76 (indicated generally on Fig. 4 at 84 and 85) will restagainst the inclined portion 32 of the main frame 24. Arms 86 and 87extend from and are suitably secured to the inclined portion bysub-frame '76 and platform 7'7. When pressure is applied to the arms 86and 3'7 in a horizontal rearward direction, the rear end of horizontalportion of the platform '77 will be lowered sufficiently to allow thereel to roll off the platform.

Preferably a pair of reel stops 88 and 89, the height of which above theplatform '77 can be adjusted, are associated with the loading platform'77 to hold the reel in a predetermined position on the platform '77 andto prevent the reel from rolling off" the truck during transportationthereon. The stops 8S and 89 are preferably attached to a plurality ofarcuate shaped gripping members or arms 90 and 91 respectively which areadapted to project through the platform 7'7.

The arcuate shaped arms 90 and 91 are preferably rigidly secured toshafts 92 and 93 respectively. The shafts 92 and 93 are preferablyrotatably secured to the under side of platform '77 by any suitablemeans such as bearings 94 and 95 respectively. Gear segments 96 and 9'7are preferably rigidly secured to the shafts 92 and 93 respectively andare adapted to mesh with gears 98 and 99 respectively. The gears 98 and99 are preferably secured to a shaft 100 which shaft preferably has auniversal joint 191 joining the two parts thereof. The shaft 100 ispreferably rotatably secured to the sub-frame '76 and platform '77 bymeans of bearings 102 which bearings are rigidly secured to thesub-frame '76 and/or platform 7'7 by any suitable means. A gear 103 issecured to the forward end of the shaft 100 and a gear 105 which isadapted to mesh with the gear 103 is secured to a shaft 104. The lattershaft 104 is adapted to rotate in a bearing 106, which bearing 106 ispreferably rigidly affixed to the sub-frame '76 and/or the platform 7'7.A coupling unit 107 is attached to one end of the shaft 104. Rotation ofthe shaft 104 causes rotation of shaft 100 which in turn causes thegripping members 90 and 91 and their associated stops 88 and 89 to move.

Piooting and stop actuating mechanism The rear platform pivotingmechanism and the mechanism for raising and lowering the reel stops arepreferably actuated by the main truck motor 23 (Fig. 8). The power foractuating these mechanisms is preferably taken from the maintransmission 28 through a shaft which rot-ates when the main clutch 2'7is engaged, in order that the main clutch 2'7 can be used to control theactuation of the platform pivoting and the reel stop mechanism. Asuitable mechanism is employed to optionally drive the shaft 126 ineither direction. In the embodiment disclosed in Fig. 8, a gear 127attached to shaft 125 meshes with gears 128 and 129. A clutch 130 isprovided to drive a shaft 131 when the clutch 130 is engaged. A gear 132is attached to the shaft 131. A clutch 133 is provided to drive theshaft 134 when the clutch 133 is engaged. A gear 135 is attached to theshaft 134. A shaft 136 has a gear 137 attached thereto which gear mesheswith the gear 135. Another gear 138 is also attached to shaft 138. Achain 139 engages gears 132 and 138 and a gear 140 fastened to shaft126. A lever arm 141, preferably located in the drivers cab, is providedwith suitable connecting links to cause the clutch 130 to engage, andthe clutch 133 to disengage when the upper part of the lever arm ismoved forward, to cause the clutch 133 to engage and the clutch 129 todisengage when the upper part of the lever arm is moved to the rear, andto cause both of the clutches 129 and 133 to disengage when the lever ismoved to a central or vertical position.

Attached to the opposite end of the shaft 126 from gear 140 is a gear142 (Figs. 2 and 8). A shaft 143 is arranged to be driven by shaft 126through gears 142 and 144 and a chain 145 which meshes with the gears142 and 144. A gear 146 is positioned on the shaft 143 and arranged tobe driven by the shaft 143 through a clutch 14'7 whenever the clutch 147is engaged. A lever 150, preferably located in the drivers cab (Figs. 1and 8), isprovided with suitable connecting links to cause the clutch147 to engage when the upper portion of the lever is in its rearposition. A gear 148 is arranged to mesh with gear 146, and a shaft 149is secured to gear 148 and to the coupling 107.

Two shafts 151 and 152 (Figs. 2, and 3) preferably extend within atransmission housing 153. which housing is centrally located between thedrivers cab and the arms 86 and 87 of the platform 77. Gears 154 and 155are attached to shafts 151 and 152 on the outside of the transmissioncase 153. A. chain 156 meshes with gears 154 and 155 and a gear 157rigidly affixed to the shaft 143. Rotation of the shaft 143 will thencause rotation of both shafts 151 and 152. lo cated within thetransmission case 153 and associated with shaft 151 is a clutch 158. Agear 159 is rigidly secured to the shaft 151 and a gear 160 rigidlyaffixed to a shaft 161 meshes with gear 159. The shaft 161 is preferablyarranged to project through both sides of the transmis sion case 153.Preferably attached to each end of shaft 161 is a crank 162. Links 163connect the cranks 152 and the arms 85 and 87 (Figs. 2 and 5). Suitableconnecting links are associated with the lever 150 to cause the clutch158 to engage when the upper portion of the lever 150 is in its forwardposition.

Reel elevating and rotating mechanism The reel elevating and rotatingmechanism (Figs. 6, 7 and 8). is provided to enable the loading of areel from grade level as shown in Fig. 6, unloading the reel to gradelevel, and rotation of the reel either free crby powerfrom the truckwhile in an elevated position as shown in Fig. 7. A reel arbor 200extends through the center of the reel 21 and a gear 201 is secured tothe reel arbor 200 to permit a power rotation of the arbor. A grippingelement 202 is also secured to the reel arbor 200 and is adapted toengage the reel 21 to cause positive rotation thereof when the arbor 200is rotated. A pair of inclined guide arms 203 (Figs. 5 and 7) areassociated with the reel arbor 200 on either side of the reel 21. Eachof the guide arms 203 has a dog 204 fastened thereto at 205. Each pairof the guide arms 203 and the associated dogs 204 has a spring 206 as-.sociated therewith which spring is adapted to hold the dogs normally inthe position shown in Fig. 6 and to permit the dog to move downwardsufficiently to roll thereel 21 forward and over the guide arm 203 tothe position shown in Fig. 6. .One end of each of a pair. of arms 207 ispreferably connected to the sub-frame 76 at 208 and the otherend of eachof the arms 207 is connected to the guide arms 203 at 209. One end ofeach of a pair of rods 210 is connected to the guide arms 203 and arms207 at 209. The other ends of the rods 210 are connected to one 1 end ofeach of a of arms 211 and one end of each of a pair of arcuate shapedbrackets 212, by means of a bar or rod 213. The other end of eachof thearms 211 are connected to the subframe 76 at 214. One of the innersurfaces of each of the arcuate shaped brackets 212 has gear teeththereon adapted to engage with the teeth on a pair of pinions 215, whichpinions are secured to a pair of hollow shafts 215 (Figs. 5 and 8). Thehollow shafts 216 are assembled over and adapted to rotate on the shaft161. Each of the hollow shafts 215 preferably extend within thetransmission housing 153 and each has a gear 217 secured thereto. Thegears 217 are adapted to mesh with gears 218 and the latter gears aresecured to a shaft 219. A gear 220 is fastened to the shaft 219 and isadapted to mesh with a gear 221 which is fastened to shaft 152.

' A clutch 222 associated with shaft 152is adapted,

when engaged, to cause the rotation of gear 221 when the gear 155 isrotated. A lever 223, preferably located within the cab of the truck asshown on Fig. 1, is provided with suitable connecting links to cause theclutch 222 to engage when the upper part of the lever 223 is in itsforward position and to disengage the clutch when the lever 223 isin itscentral or vertical position and in its rear position. A ratchet wheel224 is preferably provided to maintain the reel 21 at any desiredheight.

A gear 250 is secured to one end of a shaft 251 and is adapted to engagethe gear 200 on the reel arbor. A bevel gear 252, attached to the otherend of the shaft 251, is adapted to engage a bevel gear 253 attached toone end of a shaft 254. The shaft 254 is preferably mounted in bearingsin an arm 255 and on the other end of shaft 254 a bevel gear 256 isfastened and adapted to engage a bevel gear 257 which is fastened to ashaft 258. A bevel gear 259 adapted to mesh with the gear 257 isfastened to one end of a shaft 250, on the other end of which shaft agear 261 is fastened. The shaft 260 is preferably rotatably mounted inbearings 272 which are preferably secured to the sub-frame 75. A chain262 is adapted to engage the gear 261 and a gear 263 on the shaft 143and a clutch 254 is adapted, when engaged, to cause the rotation of gear263 when the gear 157 on shaft 143 is rotated. The clutch 264 is engagedwhen the lever 223 is in its rear position by means of suitableconnecting links and is disengaged when the lever 223 is in its centralor forward position.

Operation The truck is moved under its own power in the usualmannerwithout simultaneously operating any of the reel handling devicesby placing the lever 141 in its central or vertical position, in whichposition the clutches 130 and 133 are disengaged and no power istransmitted to the shaft 126.

In loading a reel onto the truck from the loading platform 10, the truck20 is backed up to the loading platform 10 so that the plunger 22 on therear of the truck engages the face plate associated withthe chock 11 andpushes the plunger 14 in the direction which compresses the spring 16and pivots the chock 11 around the pin 17 until the chock is fiush withthe loading platform 10. The reel 20 is then rolled onto the truck 20.

To enable the reel to be readily rolled onto the platform 77 of thetruck 20, the platform 77 is pivoted to the position in which the rearend of the platform 77 is substantially level.

The stops 88 and 89 are then raised until they are in contact with thereel 21 as shown in Fig. 2, to preventthe reel from rolling off thetruck while it is being transported. This is accomplished by moving thelever 141 in its forward po sition, and moving the lever 150 in its rearposition, while maintaining the lever 223 in its neutral or centralposition. Power is then transmitted to the gearsegments 96 and 97, whichactuate the stops 88 and 89, from the motor 23 through the clutch 27,transmission 28, shaft 125, gear 127, gear 125, clutch 130, shaft 131,gear 132, chain 139, gear 140, shaft 126, gear 142, chain 145, gear 144,shaft 143, clutch 147, gears 146 and 148, shaft 149, coupling 107, shaft104, gears 105 and 103, shaft 100 and gears 98 and 99.

To unload the reel at its destination, the reel stops 88 and 89 arelowered by means of the mechanism referred to above in connection withthe raising of the reel stops, except that the lever 141 is moved to itsrear position which disengages the clutch 130 and engages the clutch 133to drive the shaft 134, gears 135 and 137, shaft 136 and gear 138,thereby driving the chain 139 in the opposite direction from which itwas driven to raise the reel stops.

The reel is then caused to roll off the platform 77 by tilting the rearend of the platform 77 downward to its lowest position. This isaccomplished by moving the lever 141 to either the front or rearposition and moving the lever 150 to the front position. Power istransmitted from the motor 23 to the links 163 by means of the mechanismreferred to above in connection with the actuation of the reel stops upto and including the shaft 143 and in addition gear 157, chain 156, gear154;, shaft 151, clutch 158, gears 159 and 160,shaft 161 and cranks 162.

In handling a reel from grade level the mechanism shown in Figs. 6 and 7is employed. The reel arbor 200 together with the gear 201 and grippingelement 202 is fastened to the reel 21 and either the reel is movedtoward the truck or the truck is backed up against the reel with theinclined guide arms 203 at the proper height, so that the dogs 204 aremoved downward, beneath the reel arbor 200, until the reel arbor 200 isforward of the dogs 204 when the springs 206 will turn the dogs 1 to theposition shown in Fig. 6. This prevents the reel 21 from rolling off theguide arms 203. To raise the reel from this position, the lever l ll isplaced in its forward position, the lever 156 in its neutral positionand the lever 223 to its forward position. The racks 212 are then moveddownward by means of power from the motor 23 through the mechanism described above in connection with the platform tilting to the chain 156and in addition through gears 155, shaft 152, clutch 222, gears 221 and220, shaft 219, gears 218 and 217, hollow shafts 216 and pinions 215. Tounload the reel to grade level it is only necessary to reverse thedirection of rotation of the shaft 126 which will reverse the directionof rotation of pinions 215. This is accomplished by maintaining thelever150 in its central or neutral position, lever 223 in its frontposition and moving the lever 1 11 to its rear position.

The reel 21 can be held in any position above ground level, such as theposition shown in Fig. 7, and rotated by power from the motor 23. Thisis accomplished by moving the lever 150 to its central or neutralposition, the lever 123 to its rear position, and the lever 141 toeither the forward or rear position (depending on the direction ofrotation of the reel 21 that is desired). Power is transmitted from themotor 23 to the shaft 143 (as described above in connection with thereel stops) and in addition through gear 263, chain 262, gear 261, shaft260, gears 259, 257 and 256, shaft 254, gears 253 and 252, shaft 251 andgears 250 and 201.

To allow the free rotation of the reel 21 at any position above gradelevel the clutch 264 is disengaged by moving the lever 223 out of therear position.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to theparticular embodiments shown, nor to the specific arrangements that havebeen described and shown in detail, but only by the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

'1. In a reel handling truck, an adjustable platform adapted to carrythe reel, arcuate gripping members for positioning said reel on saidplatform, means for controlling the height of said platform, means forpivotally moving said .platform on an axis extending transversely of thetruck and means for actuating said arcuategripping members.

2. In combination, a reel handling apparatus and a reel loading platformhaving a reel retaining chock, said reel handling apparatus comprising aroad vehicle having a projecting member adapted to engage said reelretaining chock.

3. In a vehicle, a main frame, a pair of leaf springs, apivot axlesecured to the leaf springs and means secured to the frame for adjustingthe inclination of the frame above the pivot alxle.

4. In a platform for a reel handling vehicle, two arcuate shaped armssecured belowsaid platform and extending upward through said platformfor positioning the reel on the platform and means for actuating saidarms to engage the reel.

5. In a reel handling vehicle, a platform to carry the reel, arcuateshaped arms for positioning the reel on the platform, and means foractuating said arcuate shaped arms comprising a shaft, a gear segmentsecured to said shaft and a gear adapted to be'rotated to actuate saidgear segment.

6. In a platform for a reel handling vehicle, a substantially horizontalportion and an. inclined portion, a cross member secured'to saidplatform, a pivot bar rotatably secured to said cross member, arcuateshapedarmsfor'positioning the reel on'the platform and means foractuating said arms comprising a pair of'gearsegments, apair of gearsadapted to engage said gear segments, a divided shaft, a universaljointjoining the segments of the divided shaft and transmission meanssecured to one end of said shaft.

'7. In a road vehicle, a main frame, a running gear comprising one pairof wheels located at the front of said vehicle and another pair of whichare located at the rear of the vehicle, a rear axle associated with saidrear pair of wheels, a pair ofleaf springs arranged to transmit the loadcar ried by said vehicle to said rear axle, and a pair of leaf springseach having one end thereof fastened to the rear of said main frame andthe other end thereof connected to the rear axle.

8. In a reelhandling vehicle, for selectively loading and unloadingreelsto and from grade level or to and from a loading platform, a motor,a frame, a shaft adapted to be selectively rotated by said motor ineither direction, a-vehicle platform on said vehicle for receiving thereel, reel elevating means for loading and unloading the reel from gradelevel comprising a reel arbor adapted to be secured to the reel, andmeans including an arcuate shaped rack, and a rotatable gear for drivingsaid rack and driven by said motor through said shaft, and means forunloading said reel from the vehicle platform comprising pivotingmeanslocated between said frame and said vehicle platform about whichsaid vehicle platform is adapted to pivot, and transmission meansconnected between said shaft and said vehicle platform for lowering therear of said vehicle platform to allow the reel to roll ofi the vehicle.

9. In a vehicle, a motor, a pair of driving wheels, means including atransmission for connecting said motor and said driving wheels, reelelevating apparatus, a shaft adapted to be selectively rotated in eitherdirection connected between said transmission and said reel-elevatingappaprising a road vehicle having a main frame, a

ratus, said reel elevating apparatus comprising a reel arbor adapted tobe secured to a reel, means adapted to engage said reel arbor, a rodconnected to said last mentioned means, an arcuate shaped rack connectedto said rod, a rotatable gear for driving said rack, and transmissionmeans selectively operable by said first mentioned shaft for rotatingsaid gear.

10. In a vehicle, a motor, a pair of driving wheels, means including atransmission for connecting said motor and said driving wheels, reelelevating apparatus, a shaft adapted to be selec tively rotated ineither direction and connected between said transmission and said reelelevating apparatus, said reel elevating apparatus comprising a reelarbor adapted to be secured to a reel, a pair of inclined guide arms, apair of dogs, a rod connected to one of said inclined guide arms, anarcuate shaped rack connected to said rod, a rotatable gear for drivingsaid rack, and means for rotating said gear, said last mentioned meanscomprising a hollow shaftsecured to said last mentioned gear, a secondgear secured to said hollow shaft and transmission means selectivelyoperable by said first mentioned shaft for rotating said last mentionedgear.

ll. In a four wheel drive road vehicle, a main frame, a running gearcomprising six carrying wheels, one pair of which is located at thefront of said vehicle and attached to said frame by a pair of leafsprings and the other four of which are located at the rear of thevehicle, two adjacent the rear axles for said other four wheels, a pairof invertedleaf springs having the ends thereof attached to the housingsof and located above said rear axles, a second pair of inverted leafleaf springs having the ends thereof attached to the housings of andlocated below said rear axles, a pivot axle for said four rear wheelslocated between said rear axles and below said main frame, means forsecuring the centers of said inverted springs together and to said pivotaxle, means for adjusting the inclination of said main frame above saidpivot axle and for transmitting the load upon said main frame to saidpivot axle, and a third pair of leaf springs, each having one endthereof fastened to the rear of said main frame and the other endthereof fastened to one of said rear axles.

12. In combination, a reel handling apparatus, and a reel loadingplatform having a reel retaining chock, said reel handling apparatuscomprising a road vehicle having a frame, a projecting member secured tosaid frame and adapted to engage said reel retaining chock, wheels forcarrying said frame, a reel arbor and reel engaging means associatedwith said frame, a power plant for propelling said vehicle, anoperator's position for controlling said vehicle, means actuated by saidpower plant adapted to be controlled from said operators'position toelevate said reel handling means, and means actuated by said power plantand adapted to be controlled from said operators position for rotatingsaid reel arbor.

13. In combination, a reel handling apparatus, and a reel loadingplatform having a reel retaining chock, said reel handling apparatuscomprising a road vehicle having a main frame, a pair of leaf springs, apivot axle extending below said main frame and secured to the leafsprings, and a projecting member secured to said frame and adapted toengage said reel retaining chock. 7

14. In combination, a reel handling apparatus, and a reel loadingplatform having a reel retaining chock, said reel handling apparatuscomprojecting member secured to. said main frame and adapted to engagesaid reel retaining chock, 'a motor, a pairof driving wheels, meansincluding a transmission for connecting said motor and said drivingwheels, reel elevating apparatus, a shaft adapted to be selectivelyrotated in either direction connected between said transmission and saidreel elevating apparatus, said reel elevating apparatus comprising areel arbor adapted to be secured to a reel, means adapted to engage reela connected to said last mentioned means, an arcuate shaped rackconnected to rod, a rotatable gear for driving said rack, andtransmission means selectively operable by said first mentioned shaftfor rotating said gear.

15. In a reel handling vehicle, a frame, wheels for carrying said frame,a pivot bar secured to said frame, a cross member rotatably secured tosaid pivot bar, a platform secured to said cross member, means forrocking said platform on said pivot bar, a reel arbor and reel engagingmeans associated with said frame, a power plant for propelling saidvehicle, an operators position for controlling said vehicle, meansactuated by said power plant and adapted to be controlled from saidoperators position to selectively rock said platform on said pivot bar,elevate said reel engaging means, or rotate said reel arbor.

16. In a reel handling vehicle, a main frame, a pair of leaf springs, apivot axle extending below said main frame and secured to the leafsprings, a pivot bar secured to said frame and located above said pivotaxle, a cross member rotatably secured to said pivot bar and locatedabove said pivot axle, a platform secured to said cross member, andmeans for rocking said platform on said pivot bar.

17. In a reel handling vehicle, a platform, a icross member secured tosaid platform, a pivot bar rotatably secured to said cross member, amotor, a pair of driving wheels, means including a transmission forconnecting said motor and said driving wheels, reel elevating apparatus,a shaft adapted to be selectively rotated in either direction connectedbetween said transmission and said reel elevating apparatus, said reelelevating apparatus comprising a reel arbor adapted to be secured to areel, means adapted to engage said reel arbor, a rod connected to saidlast mentioned means, an arcuate shaped rack connected to said rod, arotatable gear for driving said rack, and transmission means selectivelyoperable by said first mentioned shaft for rotating said gear, or forrocking said platform on said pivot bar.

18. In a reel handling vehicle, a main frame, wheels for carrying saidframe, a platform secured to said frame, two arcuate shaped arms forpositioning the reel on the platform, a reel arbor and reel engagingmeans associated with said frame, a power plant for propelling saidvehicle, an operators position for controlling said vehicle, meansactuated by said power plant and adapted to be controlled from saidoperators position to elevate said reel engaging means, to rotate saidreel arbor, and to actuate said arcuate shaped arms to engage the reel.

19. In a reel handling vehicle, a main frame, a pair of leaf springs, apivot axle extending below said main frame and secured to the leafsprings, a platform secured to the main frame above said pivot axle, twoarcuate shaped arms for positioning the reel on the platform, and

means for actuating said arms to engage the reel.

20. In a reel handling vehicle, a platform, two arcuate shaped arms forpositioning the reels on the platform, a motor, a pair of drivingwheels, means including a transmission for connecting said motor andsaid driving wheels, reel elevating apparatus, a shaft adapted to beselectively rotated in either direction connected between saidtransmission and said reel elevating apparatus, said reel elevatingapparatus comprising a reel arbor adaptedto be secured to a reel, meansadapted to engage said reel arbor, a rod connected to said lastmentioned means, an arcuate shaped rack connected to said rod, arotatable gear for driving said rack, and transmission means selectivelyoperable by said first mentioned shaft for rotating said gear, or foractuating said arms to engage the reel.

21. In a reel handling vehicle, a main frame, a pair of leaf springs, apivot axle extending below said main frame and secured to the leafsprings, wheels for carrying said frame, a reel arbor and reel engagingmeans associated with said frame, a power plant for propelling saidvehicle, an operators position for controlling said vehicle, meansactuated by said power plant and adapted to be controlled from saidoperators position to elevate said reel engaging means, and meansactuated from said power plant and adapted to be controlled from saidoperators position for rotating said reel arbor.

22. Ina vehicle, a motor, a pair ofv driving wheels, means including atransmission for connecting said motor and 'said driving wheels, anoperators position for controlling said vehicle, reel elevatingapparatus, a shaft adapted to be selectively rotated in either directionconnected between said transmission and said reel elevat ing apparatus,said reel elevating apparatus comprising a reel arbor adapted to besecured to a reel, means adapted to engage said reel arbor, a rodconnected to said last mentioned means, an arcuate shaped rack connectedto said rod, a rotatable gear for driving said rack, and transmissionmeans adapted to be controlled from said operators position selectivelyoperable by said first mentioned shaft for rotating said gear.

23. In a reel handling vehicle, a main frame, a pair of leaf springs, apivot axle extending below said main frame and secured to the. leafsprings, a motor, a pair of' driving wheels, means including atransmission for connecting said motor and said driving Wheels, reelelevating apparatus, a shaft adapted to be selectively rotated in eitherdirection connected between said transmission and said reel elevatingapparatus, said reel elevating apparatus comprising a reel arbor adaptedto be secured to a reel, means adapted to engage said reel arbor, a rodconnected to said last mentioned means, an arcuate shaped rack connectedto said rod, a rotatable gear for driving said rack, and transmissionmeans selectively operable by said first mentioned shaft for rotatingsaid gear.

JOSEPH L. KOLLER.

